Last Saturday, July 5, the Newport International Polo Series Presented by Turkish Airlines carried the 4th of July spirit into the weekend with an exhilarating celebration of Italian & American culture and sport during the annual Festa Italiana. Thousands gathered under perfect summer skies to cheer on Team USA as they faced off against Team Italy in a high energy international match that ended with Italy lifting the coveted Perpetual Cup for the very first time.
Before the action began, the festivities were already in full swing. Guests arrived to a vibrant polo village filled with vendors like Coco & Co. Photos, Newport Fine Linen, Air & Anchor, Simpley Chickie, Out East Eyewear, and Newport Polo’s Pro Shop. Gourmet concessions from favorites like Brie & Honey, FYR Grill, Newport Chowder Co., Wally’s Smash Cart, JavaJai Coffee, Ben & Jerry’s, and Amano Pizza in the TD Pavilion kept crowds well fed throughout the afternoon. Sponsors added to the fun with interactive booths –Foxwoods offered games and prizes, Dillon’s served samples of their canned cocktails near the Foxwoods Cabana Club where TD Bank hosted guests, while A1 Roofing sponsored the annual holiday match.
Team Italy kicked off their weekend Friday night with a cultural highlight: an evening at WaterFire Providence in RI’s capital city.
The opening ceremony included the Official Coin Toss by Regional Market President, Stephen Moroney, as a record audience filed through the gates.
As for the match itself, the level of play was as electric as the atmosphere. Team Italy came out swinging, with Henry Elser scoring the first two goals in the opening chukker. USA’s Sam Clemens responded with a penalty goal, followed by another from Italy’s Milo Ardissone and a closing play from Chris Fragomeni for the U.S. The second chukker saw USA take a slim lead, thanks to Minnie Keating’s teamwork and another successful penalty by Clemens, bringing the score to 4–3 in USA’s favor.
But Italy wasn’t finished. In the third chukker, Ardissone added two more goals while Elser scored again. Clemens kept Team USA in the game with a strong play, but Italy pulled ahead by one goal heading into halftime. During the break, spectators enjoyed classic divot stomping, drinks from the Cocktail Guru cart, and bubbly from the ever-popular Veuve Clicquot golden champagne cart.
The second half saw Italy dominate. Ardissone added another goal, and Anastasio “Tato” Perrone came alive with a powerful three-goal performance. USA’s offense stalled, only managing one goal from Roger Souto in the latter chukkers. Italy’s strong defense and seamless teamwork carried them to a decisive 12–7 victory, earning them the Perpetual Cup, which has been awarded to the winning international team in this matchup since 2012. The trophy was presented by Sean Napolitano, CEO of A1 Roofing & Construction.
One of the afternoon’s most charming moments came from the spectators themselves. Tailgate spaces 61 and 62 stole the show and won the Stella Artois Best In Show honors, thanks to their gondola display, elegant Italian décor, and themed outfits. Their prize, presented by Stella Artois and Coco & Co., included a premium gift package.
The day was a perfect blend of sport, culture, and community, and the enthusiastic crowd made it one to remember. View the album from the match.
Next up in the Newport International Polo Series: Newport vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday, July 12 at 5PM. Gates open at 1PM join us for another unforgettable summer evening at the polo grounds.